Shehbaz, Hamza to be released on five-day parole

The Punjab cabinet Tuesday approved the move to release PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif and his son Hamza Shehbaz on parole for five days after facing criticism from the main opposition party over the issue.

According to details, the Home Department obtained approval through a circular as the provincial cabinet wasn’t in session.

In this connection, 24NewsHD TV channel reported that they would be released from the Kot Lakhpat prison after the body of Shamim Akhtar – the deceased mother of PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif and Shehbaz – arrived from London where she breathed her last on Sunday.

Earlier in the day, PML-N Spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb had stated that the PTI the government was continuing with the practice of political victimisation as the two imprisoned party leaders had not been released on parole despite the passage of two days.

On Sunday, the PML-N had immediately submitted an application to avail the parole facility for Shehbaz and Hamza after receiving the news about her demise around noon according to the Pakistan Standard Time.

Separately, PML-Q leaders Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi called Nawaz to express their sorrow over the latest loss he has faced.

It is worth recalling that Nawaz and Shehbaz were in forced exile when their father Mian Sharif passed away in Saudi Arabia. However, they could not accompany his body and attend his funeral in Lahore as Pervez Musharraf was still in power.

Years later, Nawaz lost his wife Begum Kalsoom Nawaz as he was in prison along with his daughter Maryam Nawaz when she lost her battle against cancer in London.

Maryam in a recent TV interview has made it clear that she told his father not to return to the country as the incumbent government was thirsty of his blood. Thus, Nawaz would not be able to attend the funeral of his mother too.